1
as in speech
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively
a presidential hopeful with a gift for oratory and a highly charismatic personality
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2
as in rhetoric
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the politician's oratory sounded good only to people who didn't bother to think
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oratory
Obama made his name with soaring oratory about a collective opportunity to fulfill America’s promise and a memoir that was deeply introspective about his role in that fight.
—
Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
Then with some of the most stirring words in American oratory, Kennedy told the students — and all of us — that individual courage can be a powerful force for good.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Stevenson’s oratory magnetism was powerful enough to unite, at least for a couple of hours, these disparate and sometimes adversarial forces.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025
World & Nation Profile : Le Pen: Dark Side of the French Soul : Crude, powerful and dangerous, the onetime barroom brawler with the mesmerizing oratory has built a career on hatred.
—Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
Then with some of the most stirring words in American oratory, Kennedy told the students — and all of us — that individual courage can be a powerful force for good.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Stevenson’s oratory magnetism was powerful enough to unite, at least for a couple of hours, these disparate and sometimes adversarial forces.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025
World & Nation Profile : Le Pen: Dark Side of the French Soul : Crude, powerful and dangerous, the onetime barroom brawler with the mesmerizing oratory has built a career on hatred.
—Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oratory
Noun
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After Michelle Wolf's controversial monologue in 2018 received mixed reviews from critics, the WHCA chose historian Ron Chernow to present a speech the following year.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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President Trump is expected to take a victory lap on the southern border and inflation during a speech in Michigan to mark his first 100 days back in the White House.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Conclave actor joined the cast as Albus Dumbledore despite anti-trans rhetoric from author J.K. Rowling, who is an executive producer on the show.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2025
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However, some of Poilievre's rhetoric has been viewed by Canadians as Trump-esque, such as his embrace of populist sentiments and calling opponents by nicknames, experts have said.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The recordings also capture Bell’s family background in elocution (his father, grandfather, and brother all taught the subject).—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2018
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The Bartlet staff’s righteous (and self-righteous) elocution might seem — to the cynical — sentimental, treacly, smarmy, or just eye-roll-inducingly dumb.—
Lizzie Logan,
Vulture,
23 Sep. 2024
Noun
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This approach, which claims to improve efficiency, leads students to learn up to twice as fast, enabling afternoons to be used for workshops in coding, entrepreneurship, or public speaking.—
Ray Ravaglia,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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This includes emotional public speaking, tagging, looting, vandalism, or provoking the police.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oratory. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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